Mad Men Recap: Signal 30 and Projected Male Identities

Mad Men Recap: Signal 30 and Projected Male Identities

Last week’s episode “Mystery Date” looked at shifting feminine roles. This week’s “Signal 30” was the masculine counterpoint. The episode addresses men or, more accurately, men projecting perceptions of manhood. It does so while eschewing the prominent male leads.

The episode centers on Pete Campbell. We see him assert his manhood in multiple ways (see: Wilt Chamberlain-sized stereo) only to be thwarted cruelly. Pete creeps on a high-school senior in Driver’s Ed class before being foiled by the caricature “Handsome” Hanson. He “fixes” the faucet only to have Don rip off his shirt and save the day in front of an audience in his own home. He fantasizes about being king with the prostitute. He attempts to emasculate Lane with a snide comment, only to be thoroughly emasculated himself when Lane beats him up.

Pete tries to be his perception of a man, which is Don. He wants to be the cool professional, the family man, the womanizer and the deft deployer of words. He lashes out at Don when he doesn’t get his approval. He ultimately discovers what it’s like to be Don, disingenuous, empty and alone.

Lane’s lost wallet storyline returns, as he channels his desire to reaffirm his manliness through the workplace. He plays the prideful Englishmen, celebrating the World Cup victory and thinking back to the war. He aims to land the Jaguar deal on his own – a ploy to become one of the guys – and fails. He’s presented with some redemption though as Roger, Pete and Don end up scuttling the deal and he scores a decisive victory in his fight with Pete. Lane grasps impulsively with one last bold stroke by kissing Joan, who gracefully brings him back to reality.

Ken Cosgrove epitomizes every character’s struggle for self-actualization. His wife reveals secret identity as a science-fiction writer under the nom de plume Ben Hargrove. He cannot reconcile his inner longing to write with the career path he feels obligated to follow. Don understands the desire, justifying it by saying “no one grows up wanting to be in advertising.” Roger advises him to kill it. Ken avows to give up writing, yet we see him toiling away with a pad in bed. He is who he is, if only by his bedside lamp.

Like “Mystery Date” the episode is rife with violent death imagery, but it is in the guise of the perpetrator rather than the victim. “Signal 30” is the infamous Drivers’ Ed video Pete watches initially, filled with gruesome car wrecks. Don doodles a noose during the partners’ meeting and references “blowing his brains out” at the thought of a return to the Suburbs. Characters discuss the Charles Whitman shootings at the University of Texas.

We also get more testament to the show’s impeccable attention to detail with the World Cup scene. England fans, in 1966, did use the Union Jack rather than the St. George’s flag.

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http://spartyandfriends.com/ mizerle06 is mcintyred of all the trollin'

Ken Cosgrove epitomizes every character’s struggle for self-actualization. His wife reveals secret identity as a science-fiction writer under the nom de plume Ben Hargrove. He cannot reconcile his inner longing to write with the career path he feels obligated to follow. Don understands the desire, delivering his “no one grows up wanting to be in advertising” line. Roger advises him to kill it. Ken avows to give up writing, yet we see him toiling away with a pad in bed. He is who he is, if only by his bedside lamp.

I need to start watching this show.

johndewar

Characters discuss the Charles Whitman shootings at the University of Texas.

I thought it was pretty cool that it was Don who correctly pointed out that the shooter’s name was “Whitman” when someone referred to him as “Whitmore”. Cool little nod to when that name was seemingly the source of personal angst for Don.

sportsgal116

Excellent episode last night. I don’t typically enjoy Pete-centric story lines because he’s such a whiny, narcissistic, hypocritical douche bag but I love when he self-destructs. Go Lane!!!

sportsgal116

Cool little nod to when that name was seemingly the source of personal angst for Don.

Wow, nice catch! I totally missed that.

I loved watching all the women drool when Don takes off his shirt and fixes the sink.

johndewar

Joan, who gracefully brings him back to reality.

That move with Lane and kicking Greg out have slowly made me appreciate Joan for more than just her bewbs.

http://www.h8torade.com PL StabbinKabin

Ugh, I got nothin.

jim

Somebody needs to edit the Pete/Lane fight with sound effects from Street Fighter.

sportsgal116

That move with Lane and kicking Greg out have slowly made me appreciate Joan for more than just her bewbs.

I really hope Joan shakes some sense into Roger. He’s so mopey. It was funny at first but it’s just sad now. You know it’s bad when the guy most oblivious to the things going on around him (Don) notices “miserable” Roger.

guinnessgirl13

I loved watching all the women drool when Don takes off his shirt and fixes the sink.

Ha. You know they were. I loved how Joan handled Lane kissing her.

I could watch that fight over and over. Now if only Joan would smack around Lane’s wife like that.

MUWarriors84

I really hope Joan shakes some sense into Roger. He’s so mopey. It was funny at first but it’s just sad now. You know it’s bad when the guy most oblivious to the things going on around him (Don) notices “miserable” Roger.

This plus all the dark references Duffy pointed out (and I think Roger made two references to falling out of a window in the 1st or 2nd episodes) plus his lack of value to SCDP makes me very nervous…

http://twitter.com/MantisToboggan5 Mantis Toboggan

His wife reveals secret identity as a science-fiction writer under the nom de plume Ben Hargrove.

What bitch Alex Mack turned into.

geoffreyvs hired a PR firm to get his son's coach fired; now I'm running for Senate!

Pete be creepin’ hard on that high school girl.

sportsgal116

Pete be creepin’ hard on that high school girl.

Pete’s trying so hard to be Don and failing miserably at every turn.

guinnessgirl13

Pete be creepin’ hard on that high school girl.

That was just icky.

http://tylerduffy.com/ Ty Duffy

I thought it was pretty cool that it was Don who correctly pointed out that the shooter’s name was “Whitman” when someone referred to him as “Whitmore”. Cool little nod to when that name was seemingly the source of personal angst for Don.

I think Pete calls him “Dick” during that scene too. Just a great scene in its entirety. Right degree of drunkenness. The baby reaction was great.

cracker jack

This must be a real subtle kind of show, Ive caught parts of the last 3 episodes and it seems as if its just a bunch of 30 second scenes all put together where not much interesting happens. A lot of characters. Someday I’ll try to start it from the beginning, it must be better if youre invested in the characters.

http://tylerduffy.com/ Ty Duffy

This must be a real subtle kind of show, Ive caught parts of the last 3 episodes and it seems as if its just a bunch of 30 second scenes all put together where not much interesting happens. A lot of characters. Someday I’ll try to start it from the beginning, it must be better if youre invested in the characters.

It’s almost like a really well-written novel. A lot of layers to everything. A lot of references to things that happened before and things that are going to happen. Would highly recommend starting from the beginning.

sportsgal116

Someday I’ll try to start it from the beginning, it must be better if youre invested in the characters.

You’ll understand things much better if you watch it from Season 1. It’s not even about being invested in the characters because about 70% of the characters are shitty people.

johndewar

It’s almost like a really well-written novel. A lot of layers to everything. A lot of references to things that happened before and things that are going to happen. Would highly recommend starting from the beginning.

Agreed. You won’t regret it.

http://twitter.com/MantisToboggan5 Mantis Toboggan

because about 70% of the characters are shitty people.

Thought about this and most drama shows not on network tv are like this. Except for the cop/lawyer ones on USA.

johndewar

I really hope Joan shakes some sense into Roger. He’s so mopey. It was funny at first but it’s just sad now. You know it’s bad when the guy most oblivious to the things going on around him (Don) notices “miserable” Roger.

I don’t think it was a coincidence that Roger picked the red head when he was in that brothel.

cracker jack

It’s not even about being invested in the characters because about 70% of the characters are shitty people.

Sort of like The Killing, and I cant get enough of that

sportsgal116

Sort of like The Killing, and I cant get enough of that

You stuck with that? Whoa. You have the patience of a saint.

scripty

I’ve always felt they could get more mileage out of Ken Cosgrove. I died a small death when I heard him call Pete “boss” in the season opener.